I’ve been conducting interviews as a journalist since the junior high newspaper, and I can tell you that I experienced a first last week. I walked into an office at the Smittcamp Alumni House for a meeting and promptly felt a lick on my shin. I looked down to find a little bulldog, the subject of this week’s blog, staring up from my feet.
Victor E Bulldog III has only been Fresno State’s canine mascot for a couple of months, but he is already top dog on campus. His caretaker, Jacqui Glasener, is the executive director of the Fresno State Alumni Association. Victor E spends his days hanging out in her office and wandering the halls of the Smittcamp House, visiting his favorite staff members and greeting visitors. He even took the elevator downstairs with me while I was there. (At nearly 5 months old, his little legs can’t handle the stairs yet!)
At home, he spends time with Jacqui’s golden retriever as well as her kitten. But he looks forward to his time in the office!
“He kind of walks out of the house like in the mornings like, ‘See ya later, I’m going to work!’ ” Jacqui said. “Just like, ‘I’ve got a job.’ He’s kind of adapted to it.”
Jacqui calls his distinct little walk a swagger. I could definitely see it when I watched him make his way around. When he’s not busy ambling through the Smittcamp House, he’s riding in his little red wagon, going to meet students and community members at various appearances.
Being handpicked by school officials and spending days working on campus is new for the Fresno State bulldog. The college has a long history of live bulldog mascots, but in recent years, the previous pup, Victor E II (who died tragically of a bee sting in March), was owned off-campus by Dr. Kelly Weaver of Fresno Pet ER, while the first Victor E was found in a contest and owned by an alum.
“We wanted him to be accessible on a daily basis to the students, to the faculty, to campus,” Jacqui said. “We’re really enjoying him being here on campus every day.”
You can also plan on seeing Victor E Bulldog III at every home football game, and at various other Fresno State sporting events. He has already spent time with some of the student athletes.
“He loves people, he loves kids,” Jacqui said. “He’s really adapted well into this role and even from day one, when he first got here, he came and got connected with ppl and he just loves the spotlight.
I wanted to find out more about Victor E, so I decided to interview the little dog himself, in between a nap and a bout of barking at an umbrella swinging from a door hook.
Q&A With Victor E Bulldog III
FresYes: How do you like life at Fresno State?
Victor E: “I really enjoy meeting all the students and all my fellow Bulldogs and getting to know the campus community! I can’t wait to go to my first football game and cheer on our Bulldogs to victory!”
FresYes: What is your favorite thing about your job?
Victor E: “Meeting the kids and being able to interact with our future bulldogs. I light up when I see young kids while I’m riding around in my little red wagon!”
FresYes: Do you have any tricks up your paws?
Victor E: “I am working on sit and stay and leave it! I’m going to puppy training now to learn commands! And I like bouncing balls! I love watching the students play with them!
FresYes: We saw a video of you on a skateboard. How do you like skateboarding?
Victor E: I am learning skateboarding. I love it! I think I’m going to be a natural! I like how they move and how they roll. I like to use my short little legs to try and keep up with them. But my favorite thing to do right now is to bite them! I’m going to get my own skateboard soon.
FresYes: What is your favorite snack?
Victor E: “I love mini Milk Bones!”
FresYes: Do you like to play with other dogs?
Victor E: “I do! I’ve got a brother at home, a nine-year old-golden retriever. He’s my big brother. And I love to play with Timeout! I’m learning the ropes from him! I’m learning how to play at puppy class, too. I love other dogs.
FresYes: What do you think about cats?
Victor E: “I like to use my kitten as a chew toy! My mom is trying to work on that. The kitten is faster than me, though. I don’t like that he can jump out of my way! It makes me want to bark at the kitten. I love his tail. I think the kitten teases me with it on purpose…”
FresYes: What are you looking forward to most about the next football season?
Victor E: “Cheering on the Bulldogs to a Mountain West championship! I love our student athletes!”
FresYes: What is your favorite time of day?
Victor E: “Lunchtime! Feeding time! When I get to eat! I also love being out on campus. And my afternoon nap…”
Want to know more about Victor E Bulldog III and what he’s up to? You can follow him on Twitter at @VictorEBulldog!
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